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Lake Louise Travel Guide

Canada's largest holiday ski resort area covers the slopes of
four mountain faces that surround the village of Lake Louise, in
the heart of the magnificent Banff National Park, right on the
Trans-Canada Highway, 35 miles (57km) west of Banff itself. With
plentiful natural snow and an extensive snowmaking system, skiing
is guaranteed at Lake Louise from mid-November to mid-May, and it
has the reputation of offering some of the best powder skiing in
the world. The pretty village nestling in the Rockies provides
every amenity required by visitors, and a wide choice of cosy
accommodation and dining options. Shuttle buses and an efficient
system of interconnecting lifts provide easy access to the slopes.
Put all this together with the spectacular scenery and pristine
terrain, and it is not surprising that Lake Louise has been dubbed
the 'diamond in the wilderness' and is such a popular resort
destination.

Lake Louise offers a perfect mix of beginner, intermediate and
advanced terrain for skiers and boarders. The unique layout makes
both easy and challenging runs down from every chair possible, on a
choice of 113 groomed runs, as well as limitless off-trail
adventures and acres of open snow bowls. The efficient lift system
also means minimal queue times. Private and group lessons for all
levels of skiers and snowboarders take place daily, but
reservations are necessary for the busy Christmas and Easter
season. Snow conditions are excellent, but snowmaking is possible
on about 20 percent of the runs if needed.

Lake Louise's shopping precinct is the Samson Mall, located in
the lower part of the village, offering many shops for
holidaymakers to enjoy browsing through, with competitive prices
and no provincial sales tax on purchases. Here, and in nearby
Banff, shoppers will find an eclectic selection of goods including
brand-name clothing, winter sports clothing and equipment, art and
handcrafts, souvenirs, jewellery and photographic goods. Unique
Lake Louise souvenirs to look out for are paintings by local
artists, beadwork by native peoples and jewellery set with
Alberta's ammolite gemstone. Another unusual souvenir many visitors
take with them is a bottle of water from the lake itself, which is
crystal-clear and clean enough to drink.

The resort offers a number of restaurants and bars in the
village itself, and several eateries with terraces and spectacular
views on the nearby slopes, serving everything from ethnic cuisine
to famously tender Alberta beef. There are family restaurants, cosy
cafés and elegant eateries to choose from. In some of the
rip-roaring cowboy-style eateries line dance lessons and sleigh
rides are offered along with barbecued beef, baked beans and
homemade pies. Gourmet Canadian cooking and fine wines take centre
stage at some upmarket restaurants. Staples like pizza, pasta and
hamburgers can be found in a number of casual eateries. For scenic
dining, ride the Lake Louise sightseeing Gondola to the Whitehorn
Terrace where the deck affords a breathtaking view of the lake and
surrounding peaks and glaciers.

Après ski in Lake Louise does not mean wild partying, but
there are plenty of more subdued but enjoyable ways for
holidaymakers to wind down after a day on the slopes. Many local
bars and eateries offer entertainment like live music, a little
dancing, karaoke, limbo competitions, pool tables and darts,
shuffleboard, or big screen television. Guided night ski tours and
sleigh rides are also on offer. Most visitors, however, are content
to settle down in front of a roaring fire nursing a cognac and
rehashing the day's adventures.

Holidaymakers who take a break from skiing or snowboarding can
indulge in a host of other fun winter activities including dog
sledding, canyon ice walks, snowmobile tours, snow-shoeing,
icefield tours, sleigh rides or ice-fishing on the lake. The lake
also forms a wonderful ice-skating rink, which each winter is
transformed into a wonderland with the addition of ice sculptures
on the shoreline.